The campaign aims to highlight stories from people whose lives have been saved through blood donation, as a way of motivating regular blood donors to continue giving blood and people in good health who have never given blood to begin doing so
Blood is the lifeline of every animal living on the earth. Today, world is facing deficiency of blood stock and that is causing threat to life. The only way one can see for health care is through Blood transfusion.The increasing need for blood globally requires everyone to contribute by donating blood and motivating others for the cause.
The commitment and support was declared unanimously in 58th World Health Assembly for voluntary donation of blood. As a result a resolution was passed which declared 14 June as World Blood Donor Day and it is committed that this will be observed as an annual event to be held every year. This day not only awakes people of the importance of blood donation and persuading more and more individuals to donate blood regularly but also it takes an opportunity to celebrate and thank all those who voluntarily donate their blood without any reward.
A deliberate donor would be responsible for improving rather saving million lives. Every year World Blood Donor Day is held on a theme. The last few years were celebrated with below mentioned themes:
This year, the slogan on the Worlds Blood Donor’s Day will be “Give the gift of life: donate blood”.
This special day is supported by World Health Organization (WHO), International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT), International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations (FIODS), International Federation of Red Cross, Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Employing the youth brigade for combating the deficiency of blood instill safe and healthy lifestyles in them. They should their service as much as possible in any means.
Various activities like cultural and musical performances by local artists, involving thank-you song for blood donors, Traditional dances, holding Motorcycle rally, handball championship, friendly soccer match and marching event, distributing published materials are distributed to donors and future donors, thanking blood donors for their liberal charity to the mankind, holding campaign to encourage blood donations, conducting seminars and lectures on blood donation and related themes and Symposium on Quality in Blood Donation all over world.
Following the overwhelming success of the World Health Day 2000, which was devoted to the theme ‘Blood Saves Lives, Safe Blood Starts with Me’, the World Health Organization declared the 14th of June as the World Blood Donor Day.
The flagship event was organized in 2004 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The day is dedicated to “thanking and celebrating voluntary non-remunerated blood donors”.
The day, 14th of June also commemorates the birth of Karl Landsteiner, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for his seminal discovery of the ABO blood.
The day which also thanks millions of blood-donor world-wide is aimed primarily to ensure the easy availability of safe-blood for transfusion world-wide.
Following its inception in 2004, the World Blood Donor Day initiative has been aided by the WHO, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations and International Society of Blood Transfusion.
This global network of partners adds on new collaborative agencies and previous global event hosts.
The World Blood Donor Day operates under a theme each year focusing on specialized issues related to the cause. The theme for the year 2012 World Blood Donor Day campaign is “Every blood donor is a hero”.
This theme is aimed at recognizing our inner potentiality for the heroic by simply being of use to someone in need, by donating blood. The theme recognizes the efforts of countless of silent and unsung blood donators worldwide who are doing their bit in making life easier and better for someone else by giving them the gift of blood. This also echoes the motto of the World Blood Donation Day which is aimed at ‘celebrating the gift of blood.’
In the present scenario yet another important objective of the World Blood Donor Day is to concentrate on national efforts on bettering the safety and sufficiency of national blood supplies by promoting a significant increase in the number of safe, voluntary non-remunerated blood donors who can donate blood regularly.
Transfusion of blood and blood products helps save millions of lives every year. It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with higher quality of life, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures. It also has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and prenatal care.
However, in many countries, there is not an adequate supply of safe blood, and blood services face the challenge of making sufficient blood available, while also ensuring its quality and safety.
An adequate supply can only be assured through regular donations by voluntary unpaid blood donors. WHO’s goal is for all countries to obtain all their blood supplies from voluntary unpaid donors by 2020. Today, in just 62 countries, national blood supplies are based on close to 100% voluntary unpaid blood donations, with 40 countries still dependent on family donors and even paid donors.
The focus for the 2013 campaign – the 10th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day – is blood donation as a gift that saves lives. WHO encourages all countries to highlight stories from people whose lives have been saved through blood donation, as a way of motivating regular blood donors to continue giving blood and people in good health who have never given blood, particularly young people, to begin doing so.
The objectives of this year’s campaign are to thank blood donors for their life-saving donations; promote voluntary unpaid blood donation; and convince authorizes of health to commit to achieving self-sufficiency in safe blood and blood products based on 100% voluntary unpaid.
Three things to do with donated blood
The complete ‘product’ of blood donation is whole blood. This is not used often in treatment - except to treat catastrophic blood loss – but is instead separated into different products.
Red blood cells
These are used in the treatment of all kinds of anaemia which can’t be medically corrected, such as when rheumatoid arthritis or cancer is involved, when red cells break down in the newborn and for sickle cell disease.
They’re also essential to replace lost red cells due to blood loss in accidents, surgery and after childbirth.
Plasma
Fresh frozen plasma is used after obstetric loss of blood (which is usually childbirth), during cardiac surgery, and to reverse any anti-coagulant treatment.
It’s also used to replace clotting factors after massive transfusions or when they are not being sufficiently produced, such as liver disease. And then there’s processed plasma, which has several important uses.
For instance, it is used in the treatment of haemophilia and for treating sufferers of Christmas disease, a life-threatening form of haemophilia.
Processed plasma is also used to help produce stronger antibodies against diseases like tetanus, hepatitis, chickenpox and rabies.
It also helps generate anti-D, which is used for RhD negative pregnant women carrying RhD positive babies.
Additionally there is a protein called albumin contained in plasma, which is extremely beneficial for burn victims.
Gambia observes World Blood Donor Day
The Gambia joined the international community to observe World Blood Donor Day on the theme ‘Every blood donor is a hero’ to raise awareness on the need for safe blood and blood products.
The commemoration this day reminds them of the importance of blood donation and transfusion which is a vital component of the healthcare delivery system in The Gambia.
The availability of safe blood is a fundamental right of every human being and is very high on the agenda of the government. There is a constant need for blood transfusion to replace blood lost during child birth, in treating anaemia, during emergency surgery, and for people who are injured in road traffic accident.
Focusing on the theme for the event is the idea that all and sundry can become a hero by donating blood, recognising the silent and unsung heroes who saved lives daily through their blood donations. We must strongly encourage more people all over the world to donate blood voluntarily and regularly.
The objectives of this year’s campaign are to thank and reinforce the self-esteem of those who give blood, to inspire those who do not give blood but are able and capable of donating, and also encourage the blood service staff to recognise blood donors for their heroic act.
Daily heroes respond to an immediate need for blood transfusion services not depending on the conditions or convenience. The voluntary donors come from all walks of life, regions, backgrounds, religions, and ages. By choosing to donate blood out of free will is a human solidarity gesture with the power to save lives. WHO says, “Every year, on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day. The event serves to thank voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood and to raise awareness of the need for regular blood donations to ensure quality, safety and availability of blood and blood products for patients in need.
Thank For Saving My life, #World Blood Donor Day,# WBDD2015.
According to WHO, the theme of the 2015 World Blood Donor Day goes is “Thank you for saving my life”. The WHO campaign “aims to highlight stories from people whose lives have been saved through blood donation, as a way of motivating regular blood donors to continue giving blood and people in good health who have never given blood to begin doing so.” Another slogan – ‘Give freely, give often. Blood donation matters’ – is being used on World Blood Donor Day.
For further information e-mail to azadehhassan@yahoo.co.uk, text to Dr Azadeh on 002207774469/3774469
Author Dr Azadeh Senior Lecturer at the University of the Gambia, Senior Consultant in Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
